These incredible photos showcase a heavily guarded 50-year-old elephant with tusks that each weigh 100 lb. As the gentle giant roams peacefully around the African wilderness, a Maasai warrior keeps a watchful eye to deter poachers from harming him. It’s heartening to see this majestic creature enjoying his twilight years in safety.
The ageing elephant was photographed dusting himself off to cool down while trudging through the undergrowth in his native Amboseli National Park, Kenya.
The awe-inspiring shots were captured by professional photographer Clint Ralph, 59, who said the half-a-century-old bull goes by the name Craig.
Clint reported that Craig, a 50-year-old elephant, has tusks each weighing around 100lb (50kg). To ensure his safety from poachers, he is guarded by Maasai Warriors 24 hours a day at a distance. Recently, Craig was spotted roaming around Amboseli National Park in Kenya, looking as majestic as ever.
Craig is a ‘super tusker,’ one of only 20 known to still be alive today. His tusks are a marvel, weighing over 100lb each. The Maasai Warriors’ watchful eyes have been instrumental in ensuring Craig’s long life.
The African Savanna Elephant, also referred to as the African Bush Elephant, was born in 1972.
These elephants can live up to 70 years, longer than any other mammal except humans.
“I always strive to capture unique images that stand out from the masses of photos out there. I love the distinctiveness of both the image and the subject,” Clint explained.
“My friends and I spent some time observing Craig’s movements. Eventually, we were able to predict his path and position our vehicle ahead of him, hoping he would walk past us. And he did.”
Clint followed Craig through the national park, using a Canon R5 mirrorless camera to capture these images.
“I traveled to Kenya specifically to photograph Craig in his twilight years,” said Clint.
“It was emotional to be so close to such a legend in our time.”
African Savannah Elephants can grow up to 13 feet tall and weigh up to seven tonnes.
The price of ivory fluctuates, but tusks weighing 100lbs (50kg) can sell for $5,000 each or more on foreign black markets.
